Shakira wanted to end her European residency in Madrid on a high note, and for her 13th concert, she surrounded herself with great friends. Maluma, Laura Pausini, Beéle, Dani Martín and Bizarrap joined her for one last night, which also featured dancers from the Carnival of Barranquilla, a drone display and a visibly emotional Shakira bidding farewell.
“There has been a before and after for me. It’s all felt like a dream, and honestly, I don’t want to leave,” the Colombian superstar told the audience. “It’s going to be very, very hard to leave Spain again.”
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Announced a week earlier as “The Last Dance,” Monday’s concert (Oct. 12) brought the residency to a total of 13 shows and concluded with four consecutive performances from Oct. 9-12. The finale also coincided with Spain’s National Day (Día de la Hispanidad), with Latin culture strongly present throughout the celebration.
“I’ve prepared so many, many surprises for you tonight,” Shakira teased shortly after starting the show. “Tonight, I’m not holding anything back. I’m going to give you everything, everything, everything I have, because there’s nothing like when a she-wolf meets her pack.”
The first surprise came with Maluma, who returned for the second night in a row to perform “Chantaje” and “Agua” alongside Shakira. “We’ve already done four songs together; we should form a group called Shaluma,” joked Shakira to her compatriot, who replied that he was ready to create many more songs with her.
Later, Shakira paused the show for several minutes to thank the audience and everyone who made possible what she described as one of “the most important” projects of her career. “This residency has been historic for me,” she said, adding that during these weeks, she had also gone through difficult moments, including her father’s health issues and other personal challenges. She said the audience gave her the strength to step on stage every night “with total joy and a full heart… You’ve made me feel like I’m just starting my career, and I will never forget that.”
The superstar then extended her gratitude to everyone who had been part of the show and Macondo Park, as well as Sony Music, Live Nation, her team, musicians and dancers. According to Shakira, more than 10,000 people worked on the production of the show and the themed city that was built around the stadium. She also gave a particularly heartfelt thank-you to her ex Antonio de la Rúa, a current collaborator, introducing him as “a great friend, a soul friend.” Shakira highlighted his support during the tour and his work behind the creation and details of the project.
Following her thank-yous, Laura Pausini took the stage as “the cherry on top,” as Shakira presented her. The Italian artist returned to the residency to perform a duet of “Antología,” as she had during one of the first nights of the residency. Before singing, she took a moment to offer some words, emphasizing what Shakira’s career represents for younger generations of artists. “You are a lesson for so many,” she said. “Just imagine our younger colleagues who see the immense example that you are of a long and very solid career.”
The next guest was Dani Martín, former lead singer of El Canto del Loco and one of the most recognized names in Spanish pop-rock, who joined her for “Te Dejo Madrid.” Shakira introduced him with a nod to the song’s lyrics: “Today, I’m going to sing this with a Madrileño who won’t break my heart.”
Beéle later joined her for a performance of “Algo Tú,” while several Carnival of Barranquilla dancers filled the stage, bringing a piece of her hometown’s celebration to a night that coincided with Spain’s National Day. For “Dai Dai,” the Ghetto Kids joined the celebration in a particularly colorful and vibrant evening.
The final performance also highlighted just how far the residency had come. “When they proposed doing eight concerts here in Madrid, I thought it would be impossible,” Shakira shared. “And look, today is our 13th show. Someone pinch me, please, so I know if this is real or not.” According to the artist, around 700,000 people attended the shows at the Shakira Stadium during the entire residency.
The energy remained high throughout the residency, both on stage and among the audience. Purple wigs and chain belts with coins became a recurring sight among attendees, who embraced some of the most iconic images from different stages of Shakira’s career. Near the end of the show, dozens of drones lit up the sky, first forming the shape of a she-wolf and then a giant “12+1,” the chosen way to mark the final night of the residency.
But one last surprise was still in store. Bizarrap took the stage for the grand finale, stepping behind the turntable to perform “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” with the singer, keeping the party alive until the final moments of “The Last Dance” and bringing nearly a month of Shakira in Madrid to a spectacular close.